Celosia &#39;Spitenz Dark&#39;

ABSTRACT

A  Celosia  plant named ‘Spitenz Lipstick’ characterized by its many bright red-purple colored spikes, prolific branching, foliage from the bottom to the top of the plant, a compact and symmetrical plant habit, and a response time of approximately 7.5 weeks is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Celosia argentea

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Spitenz Lipstick’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Celosia plant, botanically known as Celosia argentea, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘Spitenz Lipstick’. This new variety produces many medium sized spikes with red-purple colored individual blooms and has a blooming period of about eight weeks.

The new variety ‘Spitenz Lipstick’ is a naturally occurring sport from the unpatented Celosia variety ‘Innovo’. The new and distinct variety was discovered and selected as a single plant in a greenhouse in Monster, The Netherlands in May 2013.

The new variety ‘Spitenz Lipstick’ was first asexually reproduced by terminal vegetative cuttings in a greenhouse in Monster, The Netherlands in August 2014 and has been asexually reproduced for one and a half years. The new variety ‘Spitenz Lipstick’ has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Monster, The Netherlands.

1. Red-purple spiked-type inflorescences having many spikes per branch;

2. Prolific branching;

3. Compact symmetrical plant habit

4. Foliage located all over the stem to the bottom of the plant.

COMPARISON WITH THE PARENT VARIETY

The new variety ‘Spitenz Lipstick’ differs from parent variety in having a brighter pink flower color. Additionally ‘Spitenz Lipstick’ produces more flowering spikes per plant than the parent variety.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

The new variety ‘Spitenz Lipstick’ differs from the commercial Celosia ‘Spitenz’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,076 in flower color. Florets of the new variety are Red-Purple 61A, florets of ‘Spitenz’ are Purple 78A. Further, the new variety ‘Spitenz Lipstick’ has stems and peduncles colored near Red-Purple 58A. Stems and peduncles of ‘Spitenz’ are colored near Yellow-Green 147C. The new variety ‘Spitenz Lipstick’ has a flowering response time that is approximately one week longer than the response time of ‘Spitenz’.

The new variety ‘Spitenz Lipstick’ can also be compared to Celosia ‘Spitenz Dark’, filed concurrently. ‘Spitenz Lipstick’ produces darker colored flowers. Further, the new variety ‘Spitenz Lipstick’ has on average taller spikes and more flowering spikes per plant than ‘Spitenz Dark’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Celosia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show blooms and foliage of the plant. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a plant that has been in bloom for approximately 3 weeks.

FIG. 1 shows the plant habit including the foliage and inflorescences of the new variety.

FIG. 2 is a close-up of the new variety ‘Spitenz Lipstick’, showing individual spikes and inflorescences per branch one week in full bloom and 3 weeks in full bloom. The larger inflorescence on the right is the 3 week old bloom.

FIG. 3 is a close-up of the upper and under surfaces of the leaves of the new variety ‘Spitenz Lipstick’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Spitenz Lipstick’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Monster, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on un-pinched plants of 8 to 10 weeks old, which were grown in 10 cm pots in a greenhouse in Monster, The Netherlands under controlled day length and temperatures. Growth retardants were used weekly. The color readings were determined under natural light. Color references are to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 1995 Edition.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Celosia argentea.         -   Common name.—Cockscomb, Woolflower, Feathery Amaranth.         -   Denomination.—‘Spitenz Lipstick’. -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Rounded.         -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright, somewhat spreading symmetrical             globular.         -   Growth rate.—Rapid.         -   Height.—30.0 to 32.0 cm (using weekly growth retardant).         -   Width.—20.0 to 25.0 cm (using weekly growth retardant). -   Branches:     -   -   Stem.—Color: RHS 58A (Red-purple) Strength: Strong             Brittleness: Branches are flexible and not brittle.         -   Length of lateral branch (from top to bottom).—17.0 cm to             22.0 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branch.—0.4 cm.         -   Lateral branch color.—RHS 58A (Red-purple).         -   Lateral branch attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Branching.—Average number of lateral branches: Prolific,             with 4 to 8 breaks after pinching. -   Leaves:     -   -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A (Green and partially turning             RHS 59A (Red) with age). Lower surface: RHS .147R (Green)             Veins: RHS 45B (Red).         -   Size.—General: Medium to small.         -   Immature foliage.—Length: 7.0 cm Width: 1.3 cm.         -   Mature foliage.—Length: 12.0 cm Width: 3.5 cm.         -   Quantity per lateral branch.—14 to 18.         -   Shape.—Cordiform.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery Lower surface: Leathery.         -   Venation arrangement.—Pinnate. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Many small individual tubular blooms arranged together             in a spike-type inflorescence.         -   Height.—1 week old spike: 3.5 to 5.0 cm 3 week old spike:             4.0 to 7.0 cm.         -   Number of spikes per branch.—14 to 20 per branch.         -   Number of blooms per spike.—1 week old spike: Approximately             70 to 100 3 week old spike: Approximately 120 to 160.         -   Performance on the plant (blooming period).—8 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flower color fading.—None.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 2.0 cm to 7.0 cm Diameter: 0.3 cm Color:             RHS 58A (Red-purple).         -   Response time.—7.5 weeks. -   Florets:     -   -   Number of petals per floret.—5.         -   Petal texture (both surfaces).—Papery.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—0.5 cm.         -   Width.—0.3 cm.         -   Color (both surfaces).—RHS 61A (Red-Purple). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen.—Width: Very thin, 0.05 cm Color: RHS 61A             (Red-Purple) Pollen amount: Sparse; appears at a very late             stage Pollen color: RHS 155A (White).         -   Pistil.—Style appearance: Very thin linear Style color: RHS             61A (Red-Purple) Style length: 0.6 cm Stigma color: RHS 61A             (Red-Purple) Stigma width: 0.1 cm. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Fruit/seed set.—Not observed.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Typical to known Celosia varieties.             Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the normal diseases             and pests of Celosia have been observed. Pests common to             Celosia include Aphids and thrips. Typical diseases are             Botrytis and Pythium.         -   Temperature tolerance.—5° C. to 38° C.         -   Drought tolerance.—No tolerance for drought. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Celosia plant named ‘Spitenz Lipstick’ as described and shown herein. 